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The last two days I have been in Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu, with a few more days still to come. The 2005 reds are superb young wines, with big tannins and lots of ripe fruit. It’s going to be a great vintage for cellaring.

Devastating spring frosts are expected to reduce Australia's wine production for 2007 by as much as 50 million cases. Given Australia's looming surplus of 100 million cases of wine, that might seem fortuitous.

Are there some wines that you have always wanted to taste in your life but never have? One for me is the legendary 1947 Château Lafleur , the small-production Pomerol made from Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

I guess you could call it a journey of self discovery, even though it only took less than two hours. It was the end of a long day, and I was sitting alone in the dining room. The object was to have a quick bite and finally get some rest for a change, as opposed to the five or six hours of very restless sleep a night I’ve been getting on this trip.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and been approached by a sommelier wearing a chain around his neck with some keys and a device that looks like a silver ashtray dangling from it? I have, and I don’t like it.

I finally got my first real truffle fix of the trip, with a gouda soufflé topped with black truffles at Pic. That definitely moves the needle up a touch. How's the wait for truffles going on that side of the pond? Do any of you have any special plans for when they get there? The weather here was beautiful my first two days—warm and dry with little wind.

If you get a chance, check out today’s Wall Street Journal and their wine columnists’ review of Napa’s cult Cabernets ("A Cult Worth Joining"). I enjoy reading Dorothy J. Gaiter’s and John Brecher’s weekly column, "Tastings," and today they report on their experience with Napa’s rarest and most expensive wines.

I think it is scandalous for wine importers not to use refrigerated containers when they are shipping. It only costs a few dollars a case more, and it is the best way to maintain the quality of the wine.

It’s the end of an era. Sort of. Maybe. Two of the most influential winemakers of this era—the wife-and-husband team of winemaker Helen Turley and viticulturist John Wetlaufer—have cut their consulting business to one client.

We were rummaging around in Jean-Luc Colombo ’s cellar, trying to find something to go with the grilled entrecote du boeuf that was being served for dinner. Well, I was in Cornas, so why not an older Cornas, I suggested? I should’ve bit my tongue, since Jean-Luc decided to go old-school on me, and show me a bit of Cornas history.

I spent last weekend in Napa Valley in the company of chefs. Lots of them. I was one of two non-chef judges for the "Almost Famous" chef competition. Sponsored by S. Pellegrino, the mineral water brand, the participants are students at top North American cooking schools.

I wasn’t sure how my bottle of 2004 Petrolo Galatrona was going to survive my American Airlines flights from London to Las Vegas via Chicago yesterday. But I had to bring a bottle to my dinner last night at Lotus of Siam with some wine friends, and I couldn’t take the wine in my handbag.

The other night at a rollicking party in Napa, a woman who works in the wine business approached me about alternative closures. She works for a big company in the valley and they are tired of the hassles with corks.

Today was another day of Cornas and Hermitage. I started at Domaine Courbis whose ‘05s are looking very good—in particular, Laurent Courbis’ Cornas La Sabarotte , a plush, smoky powerhouse filled with iron, olive and spice flavors.

I love the way that Miles Davis never played "My Funny Valentine" the same way twice. It was always changing and evolving. He would emphasize a different tempo, or a different instrument, or put a mute on his horn, or, audaciously enough, turn the whole thing electric à la Jimi Hendrix, all the while still playing (more or less) the same composition.

I went to an Haut-Brion and La Mission-Haut-Brion dinner last night in London, which wine merchants Farr Vintners organized, and it reminded me of a debate that occurred very early in my career concerning the two wine estates.

Cabernet drinkers, er, make that Napa Valley Cabernet drinkers, are frustrated a lot these days. Too many high prices and hard-to-get wines is a common refrain I hear from readers. So, just when you think that a luscious Napa Cabernet for $30 is an endangered species, along comes a pleasant surprise.

Reflecting on the California Wine Experience just over a week ago, I am amazed at the popularity of Pinot Noir. Not only did we have more California Pinots than at any previous Wine Experience, we added a handful from Oregon (7) for good measure.

You know you’re in France when under the table next to you, there’s a well-behaved, blond spaniel sitting there, giving you the sad eyes. Sorry pooch—you’re cute (and I love dogs) but this meal is mine.

What to do with a wine with only 99 cases? Well, this one I’m recommending. It’s the 2004 Native 9 Santa Maria Valley Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards Pinot Noir, and it’s a smooth, rich, supple charmer with sassafras and black cherry fruit that retails for $48.